Unlocking Business Potential with SOPs and Virtual Assistants

Wesley Paul:
Music about building up your blueprint. It’s time to take it, time to go and chase it. Don’t lose it. This generation needs integration with information to move with an inclination that is abiding in entertaining improvement.

Hey, what’s going on, Blueprint Nation? Welcome to another dope episode of the Respect My Blueprint podcast. I am your host, your main man, your blueprint mastermind, and this is the platform where we give you the blueprint on how to do around here.

And today, I’m super excited with my guest. As you guys know, we always bring dope guests here to share their insights. We look under the hood of their blueprint so we can go ahead and share it with you guys.

My guest today is a lovely young lady. She’s an entrepreneur, a marketer, traveler, innovator, bestselling author. Yeah, you could call her superwoman if you want to. But she’s also someone who doesn’t just build brands, she scales empires.

She’s a founder, a fixer, and a fierce operator. She’s known for turning startups into seven-figure machines and helping businesses shave forty thousand dollars off of their operations.

We’re going to learn about SOPs, operations, and streamlining your business, which is a requirement in 2025. So I hope you’re sitting on the edge of your seats for my guest today, Alexis Schomer. How are you doing today?

Alexis Schomer:
I’m doing amazing. Thank you so much for having me on. I’m excited to get into it.

Wesley Paul:
Awesome. I’m glad to have you as well. Super excited. I tried to roll out the red carpet for you. I even called you superwoman, so high expectations right out of the gate.

Before we get into everything, if you could share a little bit with the audience about who you are, your background, and your expertise to set the stage for our conversation today.

Alexis Schomer:
Sure. I have a broad variety of experience from marketing to operations, everything from running my own tech startup to running a food manufacturing warehouse, to running an ecommerce brand, and now helping small businesses scale their operations.

The focus now is taking everything that I’ve learned from my past and helping founders cut corners and not make the same mistakes that I made. I help streamline operations through administrative support and strategic scaling.

Wesley Paul:
That’s powerful. This is a topic a lot of entrepreneurs need to be aware of, whether you’re a startup or a well-established business. Can you highlight the importance of SOPs and streamlining operations?

Alexis Schomer:
For any business to grow, you want to build a team that can repeat the processes that you set. An SOP is the document that outlines those processes. It’s what you use to train new team members and streamline onboarding, especially if there’s turnover.

If you don’t have SOPs, you’re personally training every new hire. SOPs document your processes, streamline onboarding, and ensure tasks are done correctly.

Our entire team, from bookkeeping to operations to admin, follows SOPs. An SOP can look different depending on the business. It could be a document, an app, or built into a project management system. At the end of the day, it’s a clearly defined process with steps, instructions, and resources needed to complete a task.

Wesley Paul:
That really is like the constitution of a business. When you go into a company that doesn’t have SOPs, what’s the first step you take?

Alexis Schomer:
When working with a new client who doesn’t have SOPs, I start with a two-hour brainstorm session. Sometimes we schedule a few of these. I have them explain their process to me.

For example, if they’re an electrical company, I ask where clients come from, how appointments are booked, and what systems they’re using. I record the entire call and their screen sharing. From that, I can build their SOP.

A lot of founders have everything in their head. That’s okay, as long as someone helps document it. The goal of every business is to run without the founder. If all processes live in your mind, the business stops when you step away.

Wesley Paul:
That makes a lot of sense, especially when you think about scale. A lot of founders are trying to grow but they’re still doing everything themselves. Where do virtual assistants come into play with SOPs?

Alexis Schomer:
Virtual assistants are really the execution layer of SOPs. You can have the best processes in the world, but if no one is there to run them consistently, they don’t matter.

Once SOPs are in place, a VA can step in and follow those processes without the founder needing to explain things over and over again. That’s where you really start to see leverage. The founder can step back from the day-to-day and focus on strategy, sales, or growth.

Wesley Paul:
A lot of people are nervous about delegating because they feel like no one will do it as well as they do. How do you help founders get over that fear?

Alexis Schomer:
That’s one of the biggest mindset shifts we work through. My philosophy is that if someone can do something 80 percent as well as you, it’s time to let it go and train them up.

Perfection slows businesses down. Delegation isn’t about perfection, it’s about progress. Once founders experience how much time and mental space they get back, that fear starts to disappear.

Wesley Paul:
What are some of the first tasks you recommend founders delegate?

Alexis Schomer:
Administrative tasks are usually the best place to start. Things like inbox management, scheduling, invoicing, CRM updates, and follow-ups.

Founders should not be the first person touching a general inbox. That alone can save hours every week. Once those tasks are off their plate, they can move into delegating more strategic work.

Wesley Paul:
What about communication? A lot of founders feel like they have to be available everywhere.

Alexis Schomer:
That’s very common. One of the first things we do is limit communication channels. Being available on email, text, DMs, and multiple platforms creates constant interruption.

We also recommend separating personal and business communication. Tools like Google Voice allow founders to keep boundaries, while a VA manages incoming messages and escalates only what truly needs attention.

Wesley Paul:
How do you make sure important things don’t slip through the cracks?

Alexis Schomer:
That’s where escalation rules come in. VAs handle day-to-day communication, but anything urgent, revenue-related, or time-sensitive gets flagged immediately.

Clear expectations and weekly check-ins are usually enough to keep everything running smoothly. The key is clarity around what needs escalation and what doesn’t.

Wesley Paul:
What mistakes do you see entrepreneurs make when it comes to hiring VAs?

Alexis Schomer:
One big mistake is expecting perfection right away. There’s always a learning curve.

Another mistake is not having a clear onboarding plan. VAs need structure just like any other team member. We treat onboarding as a ninety-day process, not something that happens in a week.

Founders are also often afraid to repeat themselves, but repetition and documentation are essential. SOPs make that process much easier.

Wesley Paul:
That onboarding piece is huge. How detailed do SOPs need to be?

Alexis Schomer:
They don’t need to be perfect. Most founders already have the process in their head. The easiest way to start is to record your screen while you’re doing a task.

You don’t need to create extra work. Just capture what you’re already doing. That recording can later be turned into a written SOP or added directly into a task management system.

Wesley Paul:
That definitely lowers the barrier to getting started.

Alexis Schomer:
Exactly. SOPs should evolve over time. Even a rough process is better than nothing. SOPs are what allow businesses to scale because they make knowledge transferable instead of trapped in one person’s head.

Wesley Paul:
As businesses grow, systems and tools start to matter more and more. How do you think about systems when scaling with virtual teams?

Alexis Schomer:
We’re very systems-first. As the business grows, we’re constantly revisiting our tools and processes to make sure they still support the team. What worked when you had two people won’t always work when you have ten or twenty.

We look at onboarding, performance reviews, communication, and task management regularly. Systems should support the team, not slow them down. If something becomes clunky, it’s usually a sign that it needs to be updated or simplified.

Wesley Paul:
That makes sense. What challenges tend to come up as companies scale their virtual teams?

Alexis Schomer:
Finding the right people is always the biggest challenge. A good hire can completely change the trajectory of a business, and a bad hire can create a lot of friction.

That’s why recruitment, training, and culture are so important. Skills can be taught, but values are harder to change. We focus heavily on making sure there’s alignment from the beginning.

Wesley Paul:
You mentioned partnership earlier. How do you and your business partner work together effectively?

Alexis Schomer:
Partnerships are like relationships. Just because something didn’t work in the past doesn’t mean it can’t work with the right person.

My partner Jenna and I are very aligned but also very different. She’s more analytical, which balances my emotional side. That balance helps us make better decisions, especially during challenging moments.

Wesley Paul:
AI is everywhere right now. How does it fit into your approach?

Alexis Schomer:
We see AI as a support tool, not a replacement. We train our VAs to use AI to work more efficiently, whether that’s drafting content, organizing information, or brainstorming.

Everything is still reviewed by a human. AI speeds things up, but it doesn’t replace critical thinking or judgment. It’s about using technology to enhance people, not replace them.

Wesley Paul:
What advice would you give to entrepreneurs who are still hesitant to delegate?

Alexis Schomer:
Start small. Track what you’re doing for a week and identify repetitive tasks. That alone brings clarity around what can be delegated.

Delegation is a skill. It gets easier over time. Once founders experience the freedom that comes with letting go of certain tasks, it changes how they think about their business.

Wesley Paul:
What’s next for Your Startup Operations?

Alexis Schomer:
Next year is our year of growth. We want to expand into specific niches, pre-train virtual assistants, and continue offering a white-glove experience while scaling.

We’re also continuing to test new tools and technologies so we can stay ahead and support our clients better.

Wesley Paul:
If people want to learn more or connect with you, where should they go?

Alexis Schomer:
They can visit yourstartupoperations.com or connect with me on social media.

Wesley Paul:
We’ll make sure everything is linked in the show notes. Alexis, thank you so much for joining us today and sharing your insights.

Alexis Schomer:
Thank you, Wesley. This was a great conversation.